FTC Profit Disclosure Twitter retweet campaign

It’s amazing how often a government wants to put it’s big heavy handed, ill conceived, policies, upon people just trying to do their own thing. But now the FTC wants to muscle in on every blog and website in the world.

Obviously if public health, or safety, are at risk, we expect some action to be taken, ideally after DSICSUCCION with all parties and then suggestions for self regulation and then finally legislation is that does not work after a suitable period.

On top of the huge fiasco where certain states are requiring TAX to be applied on sales, which has forced several affiliate scheme owners like Amazon, to simply cancel affiliates based in those states because they can not physically, logistically, manage such taxation schemes, now the FTC advertising division, want to enforce a policy of open disclosure where profit is expected.

“Where profit is expected” means affiliate commission of any sort. It “could” also rapidly extend to other profits in kind, such as if you run any sort of “advertising” beside your content, such as Google’s Adsense, because is that just an advert, or doe sit “influence” the content you provide?

The logic is that if a review is rewarded in any way, including “gifts” like a free copy to keep, that eh review is no longer un-biased. And as such consumers should know that there isa vested interest, so a DECLARATION needs to be made, so consumers are “protected” (sic0.

Well news people, there is NO content ever made without profit. Every magazine has a link between ews coverage and advertising. Every editorial has an advertorial bias. Every Newspaper has a behind the scenes political agenda. Every political “DONATION has a behind the scenes business motivation (i.e. a) if this party get in, my particularar business will do better, at this time, or b) they may lift some legislation to enable my business to rn more effectively).

In life, I think it’s very hard to find any action, or content, that is not in some may influenced by profit.

Every negligee party. Every Tupperware party. Every sex toy party. Every artistic performance.

Obviously Oprah, with her post sales book club, et al, needs the biggest banner on earth during everything she says!!!! All her content is for profit!

Let’s not even mention the church, or any charity! Or any opensource website with a DONATE button.

Loosely speaking, even the shops you shop in, you do so because you prefer them, so you are endorsing them with your patronage. so you are then “profiting” by having the choice of your preferred supplier.

OK flakey connection,. Now say you recommend this shop to a friend, perhaps on your blog, or Twitter. Now you are benefiting in kind because your preferred supplied has more chance of surviving in business.

It may not be a direct financial reward, or a gift, or a discount (although those could happen if one day you say to the shop owner, they I keep sending customers to you from my blog, and the shop goes, yes we know, they told us, here’s a free pork chop – than BANG).

If you want to read the 86 pages of this fiasco, then you can get a PDF of it here The FTC Blog Discolsure Fiasco.

How they expect to monitor and enforce 8 billion Google Adsense pages to start with, I have no idea.

How they expect to monitor and enforce 20 million Amazon affiliates, I have no idea.

How they expect to monitor and enforce 7 million Clickbank promoters, I have no idea.

Wherever any sort of keyword enhanced navigation is used (aka a blog title that is modified to get more traffic) where any sort of advertising (like Adsense) is displayed, is AFAIC done for “Profit”. As such, NO I don;t believe a word that person says. Same way I don’t believe a word any advert says. Same way I don’t believe a word that any government says that is “better for MY well being”.

In the Western democracy, we are supposed to ave a “choice”. I choose to vote with my wallet. I buy stuff I like, and I don’t buy stuff don’t like. Hopefully most of the time anyway

Thanks, FTC, but I am already fully aware that I am being exploited every minute of every day by people, who may or may not tell me, what they are getting out of it.

Hmm now if the FTC have this new legislation to enforce, hmm the probably needs more funds and more staff and more managers, and mor econsultants to administer it. SO hmm, they get to not only keep their own jobs, but increase the power base of their quango. Hmm is that for profit then?

Well slap yourself with a disclosure notice people. You’re exploiting us tax payers!

Ask yourself 1 question. “As a consumer, are you better protected if you see a disclosure notice on every article, webpage, email you ever now get? Or will it make no differencee to you at all, because you already now, people are in it for the buck?”

I know my answer!

We also need to remember one thing. Just because it’s for profit, does not mean it is not true! So how on earth do we “gauge” that FTC?

FTC DISCLOSURE:

Every thing I ever say, or have ever said, has and always will be for profit. Profit of mother nature. Profit of mankind. Profit of self. Profit of people I know and love.

As I profit from my existence on earth, I survive to eat, then absolutely do not believe a word I say, as I have a vested interest in everything.

Have I made this blog article because I want to profit? Yes!

1) I want traffic on a popular topic. I run advertising. My content leads to other content which sells my own stuff. Or the stuff of others, I make commission out of. DOH!

2) I want the world to know they are in danger and need to consider using a DISCLOSURE NOTICE themselves. I don’t profit directly, but it means we both survive a bit longer and you may thank me for it later. By being my friend, or giving me money. Who knows. But damn it, there’s profit there YOU are valuable!

3) I’m continually disappointed in how un-democratic and un-consultative the governments, and how self appointed quangos (like the WHO) can just suddenly decide what we can and can not do. F### #ff.

4) I’m not sure how this affects the USA amendments and FREE SPEECH, if we now have to “qualify” any statement with a DISCLOURE of profit warning. I don;t think NAY politician will be able to open their mouths, without making such a declaration. They serve as directors and consultants on commercial companies, they take campaign funding from businesses, and you make a salary for saying anything. NOPE sorry, I don;t believe a word you say, you do it for your own profit.

I can’t think of a good acronym that the FTC stands for, but one may come to me.

People are dieing, being tortured, murdered and starving all around the world, and some body wants to nanny state us in to “stating” that we do stuff for money.

Well holy cow !! Who’d have guessed?

Hey Obama! How about you do something we can notice. STOP THIS CRAP. Stop state border taxes. Stop profit disclosure. Support the little guy and stop imposing heavy handed red tape which prevents ordinary people form making a crust, after corrupt old boys institutions such as the banks, have screwed every corporation and every citizen, and every future tax payer.

We NEED these crusts. We need to profit. We need to barter and trade and live n a social “economy” where we each have a role and exchange value. Be it planting or picking crops, or writing ebooks, or policing protecting us from real criminals. Or carers who nurse through bad times.

We do it for money.

Hell yeah, we do it for money. Wasn’t that frigging obvious enough for you guys already?

And I just need to say this again, for profit.

Just because it is for profit, does not mean it is not true!

And that’s why this is such rubbish. Because a profit declaration does nothing to gauge the truth. Nothing.

Most things ARE lies, or half truths, or have vested interests. From the age of 23 months, you have learnt that. Our only protection is self “choice”. Whcih is also why heavy handed red tape legislation is no improvement. The governemnt seldom acts in MY best interest. How about that!

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